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D-backs agree to three-year extension with Hill

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PHOENIX — The Arizona Diamondbacks announced they have agreed to a three-year extension through 2016 with infielder Aaron Hill, according to D-backs Executive Vice President & General Manager Kevin Towers.

Hill, 30, was the first D-backs infielder to earn a Silver Slugger Award® in 2012 after hitting a career-high .302 (184-for-609) with 44 doubles, 6 triples, 26 home runs and 85 RBI in his first full season with Arizona. He established career-highs in slugging percentage (.552), OPS (.882) and extra-base hits (76) on his way to being selected as the D-backs' Most Valuable Player by the Arizona chapter of the BBWAA.

The 5-foot-11, 205-pound Scottsdale resident also was named to The Sporting News 2012 NL All-Star Team and as a finalist for the Hank Aaron Award, which recognizes the most outstanding offensive performer in each league.

Hill's Silver Slugger season included hitting for 2 cycles (June 18 vs. Mariners and June 29 @ Brewers), the second player in the modern era of Major League Baseball to record multiple cycles in a season (also Brooklyn Robins' Babe Herman in 1931) and fourth in baseball history (also Cincinnati Red Stockings' John Reilly in 1883 and St. Louis Browns' Tim O'Neill in 1887).

Hill, a member of the 2009 American League All-Star Team, is a career .272 (1,104-for-4,059) hitter with 244 double, 124 home runs and 510 RBI in 1,064 games with Toronto (2005-11) and Arizona (2011-12). He was acquired from the Blue Jays on Aug. 23, 2011 with infielder John McDonald in exchange for infielder Kelly Johnson.